Applying modern psychological theory to superheroes

"The Psychology of Superheroes: An Unauthorized Exploration" (BenBella $17.95) is the book comic-book fans have been waiting for and didn't know it: It's going to un-launch a thousand debates.

Superhero psychology is a topic near and dear to the hearts of fanboys and fangirls. Debates about why Batman doesn't kill the Joker, why Captain America doesn't run for president, why Superman doesn't get rid of all nuclear weapons or why the X-Men don't unmask and go on "Oprah" run long into the night at comic shops and online. But these debates are ultimately superficial; your average comic-book fan doesn't have the framework, vocabulary or professional experience to dissect a fictional character's underlying psychology.

Until this book.

Edited by Robin S. Rosenberg, Ph.D., and containing essays by nearly two-dozen psychologists, "Psychology" applies modern psychological theory to superheroes. For example, Rosenberg herself demonstrates how behavioral activation and inhibition systems apply to the formation of Clark Kent's personality. Mikhail Lyubansky shows how prejudice against the X-Men fits into real-world behavioral paradigms, involving theories on authoritarian personality, group conflict and social identity. Bradley Daniels uses forensic psychology to probe into Arkham Asylum, and Chuck Tate describes how Batman's actions fall into "hostile aggression" mode, as opposed to what he pretends, which is "instrumental aggression."

And there's plenty more, like anti-heroism as a factor in a number of characters, career-selection methodology legitimizing the superhero "job," the psychopathology of the Punisher (and how to treat him), a personality breakdown of Wonder Woman's inherent contradictions -- and, just for fun, what about Bizarro?

No, this book won't answer the specific fan arguments listed above. But by using the tools of the professional psychologist, the larger picture is established. From that, we readers can begin to draw more accurate conclusions. "Psychology" takes our concerns to an entirely new level, and what true fan can resist that? Highly recommended.

Other reviews:

-- I've long bragged on Rick Geary's "A Treasury of Victorian Murder" series at NBM Publishing, but I'm not going to do that anymore. Now I get to brag on his new series, "A Treasury of XXth Century Murder"!

After nine outstanding volumes set in Victorian times, Geary kicks off the bloody 20th with "The Lindbergh Baby." Just as before, Geary impresses with his meticulous research, his ability to convey the sensationalism of the press and public, his objective refusal to draw conclusions (that's the reader's job) and his gorgeous woodblock art style, so suggestive of times gone by.

I devour each of Geary's volumes the instant it comes out, and am running out of superlatives. Just go buy one, already, and you'll be as hooked as I am.

-- I've also bragged about Gemstone's gorgeous hardback reprint series of the famous EC Comics of the early 1950s, but now I can up the ante.

"EC Archives: Weird Science Vol. 3" ($49.95), which reprints "WS" Nos. 13-18 (May 1952-April 1953), shows EC's legendary SF bullpen at its peak. Most stories are written by Al Feldstein, with at least one story per issue by the incomparable Wally Wood. Rounding out the art team on most issues are Joe Orlando, Jack Kamen and Al Williamson.

This much alone ought to whet your appetite. But, as they say on late-night TV commercials, there's more!

By 1952, EC had a working relationship with legendary SF writer Ray Bradbury. Several of the stories in this collection are Bradbury adaptations, such as "The Long Years" and "Mars Is Heaven." Meanwhile, comics historian Jerry Weist gives us the background on (and some unpublished correspondence from) the Bradbury-EC collaboration.

So if you're a comics historian, this book is for you. And if not, you'll just have to settle for top-flight SF stories by some of the most famous names to ever grace the business!

(Contact Andrew A. Smith of the Memphis Commercial Appeal at capncomics(at)aol.com or visit www.captaincomics.us.)